LPP #58 Feeling Invisible & Letting Go of “Should” with Anna Sweeney

This episode is with Anna Sweeney, MS, RD, LDN, CEDRD-S. Anna is a Certified Eating Disorder Registered Dietitian, Certified Sports Nutritionist, Certified Intuitive Eating Specialist and founder of Whole Life Nutrition. You can find her on Instagram @dieticiananna

IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:

x How ED awareness week can be triggering for some people who are still struggling

x The physical depiction of what recovery looks like is limiting. Anna has a strong desire to change the representation of what recovery looks like

x Her diagnosis with MS and the story of her sister’s ED

x her experience of being seen as “other”, feeling invisible to others because of her wheelchair (she can relate to others who may feel excluded by societal norms)

x When we actively avoid seeing the things that make us uncomfortable, so as not to stare, we are in fact not acknowledging someone. Which is the equivalent of erasing this person from your field of vision – and they can see you doing that

x Choosing the path of least resistance which is 1000% acceptance

x The false illusion of control, that we are in control of the disorder, when in fact the disorder is controlling us

x Tell ourselves new stories, so much of coming home to ourselves is an intentional unlearning to undo what we were taught about our bodies, food, and appetite

x Giving up her love of buying and wearing high heels: buying into this story she had around high heels. High heels in her closet becoming a “wall of should”

x High heels represent success, longer more attractive legs, the meaning she was making out of the shoe. Spending money on these shoes that reinforced of how something is wrong with her. How she “should” be different. Even though the foot ware was completely inappropriate for her.

x Choosing to live in a place that is gentle and kind

x Dismantling diet culture, Being an anarchist and the challenges that come with going against societal norms. Diet-culture chastises those who do not subscribe and frames them as being self-involved or “letting yourself go”